Awe, Nice!
Short interviews from people who work outside, about a moment of wonder they experienced. Wonder at Work.
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Mini-Awe-Polis 2
06/25/2025
Mini-Awe-Polis 2
We all are capable of experiencing moments of wonder. They are not reserved solely for creative or religious people. Moments of awe cross the political spectrum. They cross the livelihood spectrum. Awe is a positive force that can be felt by everyone. Nonetheless, I carry a fair amount of skepticism around with me. It’s a journalistic thing. Like. I tend to think moments of awe actually happen with ho-hum regularity. It’s since we’re humans – distracted, in our heads, with dulled-down senses, that we miss them. When we do witness awesome moments, it’s because that moment occurred just when we happen to be particularly present and tuned in to our surroundings. I mean, how often to you find seaglass or a shard of old Indian pottery when you are not intentionally looking for it? How do you hear the ‘drink your tea, tea, tea of a towhee (the bird in our logo) if you’re not listening? Most Awe, Nice! interviewees tell me they experience moments of awe all the time. Yes, cool things are happening all the time, but these folks, these interviewees see them because they’re kinda special in a 21st century way. They’re quiet and connected, with their senses that is. Occasionally with this project, I share a few mini-moments of awe. My nickname for these segments - cringe away! – is Mini-Awe-Polis. Mini Awe Polis is a bundle of small wonders that have collected in my noggin. Kind of like the hay in my jacket pockets. Since we working our way into the dog days of summer, I wanted to give canines some attention. While dogs sure can wreck nature sightings – because they tend to investigate eagerly and like to eat or chase things that you might want to see – they are also good at helping you discover things you might have otherwise overlooked. So I try to pay attention to them. When we’re working cows, for instance, they alert me to things I should be paying attention to all the time. Cows can hide. I know this may sound silly, but in big country, they can tuck in under scrub oak and you can ride right past them. Of course, this doesn’t happen if your dogs are with you. In the fall, we bring cows off of the National Forest and down to winter pastures. It’s a week of long days and, after a summer of moderate work, the dogs are primed and I feel like they take this week seriously. One day, in the middle of the day, I watched my dogs Monty and Tina over several hours as they helped move cows up a gully and across a big meadow, bordered by scrub oak and Ponderosa pines. I knew they were thirsty, but they are so dedicated to the task that they won’t leave the cows. So I developed a command, ‘get some water’ so that they can essentially give themselves permission to drink. On this day, I saw a drainage and told them to get some water. They heard me but still took turns. Tina went for water. Monty stayed with the cows. When Tina came back, Monty went for water. On the next day, we had more interaction with other help, folks with their dogs and horses. We got the cows to their stopping point that evening, a high desert grassy area with a pond, and settled them in. The dogs knew we were done for the day. I watched as almost all of them seemed to let down. Most of them peeed and pooped. Some starting playing. They had punched their time card and were headed for the tailgate party. My mom told me many times: a productive life is a happy life. Sure, maybe she was telling me to work hard, but she also felt this way – passionately - when it came to dogs. I do think that my dogs are happiest when they are working. But what do I know?
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Mini-Awe-Polis 1
06/25/2025
Mini-Awe-Polis 1
I developed AweNice with the notion that we all are capable of experiencing moments of wonder. They are not reserved solely for creative or religious people. Moments of awe cross the political spectrum. They cross the livelihood spectrum. Awe is a positive force that can be felt by everyone. This project specifically seeks out interviews with those who work outside and work with animals, people I feel aren’t heard from often and whose daily life is relatively quiet and disconnected. I should qualify that: disconnected in the mainstream, digital sense. I’m finding, though, that they are deeply connected in other ways, to other things. So, anyway, I want to share a few mini-moments of awe that I’ve experienced. Get ready to cringe all you listeners! This is the first segment of Mini-Awe-Polis. Mini Awe Polis is a bundle of small wonders that have collected in my noggin. Kind of like the hay in my jacket pockets. There is a big, solitary, feral cat that comes around at night, especially in winter. I’ve named him Dana because I’m not sure if he’s male or female, but I’ll call him a him. Dana is fat and smart and friendly, which I think is a pretty unusual combination for a feral cat. Because he is not stupid, Dana knows he can handle one dog, but probably not more than one. My dogs are not warm to cats, so, not surprisingly I rarely see Dana during the day. But at last call (sometime between 8 and 11 at night when I check the horses and take a little walk with the dogs), I can sometimes spot him. More than once, he’s crouched in the scrub, a hundred feet from the house, and watched as the dogs, clueless, go streaking by. I think Dana has us pretty well figured out. It’s fun to consider how he considers us. And speaking of cats. I was helping gather calves on New Year’s Day last year. I had two dogs with me and was riding my grey horse, Ray. The country was rough, full of piñon, juniper, and scrub oak. I was sussing out a small, narrow canyon alone. When I say sussing out, I mean that I suspected the calves were down in the canyon, grazing their way east, and I was zigging and zagging, trying to find a way down to them. But the sides were steep, mostly unpassable, and I was having to back up and turn around a lot. My dog, Tina, jogged across this giant boulder jutting out over the gully and I took a picture to capture how frustrating the going was. We paused and listened for animals moving. Then I look across and watched as an adult mountain lion strode up the other side of the canyon, some hundred feet away. She walked with purpose but not urgently. She was large and lanky and graceful, and powerful – I remember her tail, which seemed as long as her body. I soaked it in, not taking my eyes off her, not moving or reaching for my phone. Then I saw another one, a juvenile, following her at a distance. I’ve lived in cat country for more than a decade and I know well the feeling - in your bones and in your mind - that you are being seen by them. But I’d not laid eyes on one until now. Stay safe, Dana. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us . AweNice also welcomes your support. You can find a donate button on our about page. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Andrew Clements
06/20/2025
Andrew Clements
This week, I interviewed Andrew Clements, of Cortez, Colorado. Drew works for the state, but the program also does work for the US Forest Service in Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah. Here, he shares an encounter with a grizzly bear in the Yellowstone National Park, while he was part of a team collecting forest health data near the confluence of the Thorofare and Yellowstone Rivers. Drew told me that a fair amount of logistical work goes into planning for his field season. He tends to hit locations of lower elevation early, then chase the snow up to higher plots before being pushed down lower, again, by the snow, in the fall. Drew figures during any given year, he hikes four to seven hundred miles and is hoping to keep on keeping on until his knees give out.
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Scotty Calhoun
06/20/2025
Scotty Calhoun
Scotty Calhoun is a fourth generation horticulturalist, raised in Rochester, New York, now living in Cortez, Colorado. He talked with me about the knowledge he's gained from his forefathers. His great grandfather came over from Holland with seeds in his pockets. That man, then his son (Scott's grandfather), and Scott's father and, of course, Scott himself, all worked the farm in upstate New York. It's a business that still exists today, run by Scotty's uncle and cousin. Scotty continued his horticultural journey with work at places like the Chicago Botanic Garden. This work is a constant calculus of considering the weather, the seasons, the soil, the condition of the plants, the state of the equipment, and who is showing for work on any given day. Scotty shares some thoughtful thoughts on, of all things, burlap. Burlap is essential and low tech. And when it decomposes, is it gone? Is all the burlap used by his family really gone? Or does it live on in the soil and in the plants themselves?
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Ben Longwell
06/03/2025
Ben Longwell
I interviewed of Pendleton, Oregon. Ben grew up in Colorado, but has cowboyed all around the western US. For many years, he worked in New Zealand, where his wife, Natalie, was born and raised. Here, Ben shares a moment way up in the Big Horn mountains of northern Wyoming and southern Montana. The Big Horns are remote and wondrous, but also daunting, with their own weather and terrain. This particular moment unfolds along the Molly Crospey livestock trail, just east of Shell, Wyoming, at around 7,500 feet elevation. It’s pretty unpopulated thereabouts. In Big Horn County, which is twice as big as the state of Delaware, there are fewer than four people per square mile. I really enjoyed hearing how that scene unfolded and appreciated Ben’s take-away. What a beautiful lesson to fold into your life. Also, you are one for understatement, my friend. I’ve herded horses horseback before, and, it can sure get, as you say, ‘interesting.’ We’ll put a link to Ben’s horse work on our website. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us at awenice.com. Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Find more of his terrific music here. My name is Maddy Butcher, I developed Awe Nice in hopes of brightening your day. If you’d like to donate, . And thank you. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Aidan Gaughran
06/02/2025
Aidan Gaughran
Aidan Gaughran lives right here in Montezuma County, but for five years he worked in Panama. First, he was in the Peace Corps, then he returned to manage an eco-lodge. As a PCV, Aidan worked in the community environmental conservation sector on the Azuero Penisula and helped bring sustainable cook stoves to his community. He also helped develop a fruit orchard. While his moment of awe stemmed from a recreational outing, he told me that similar events have unfolded closer to where he worked, near Las Minas, and during work projects. Yes, we have rattlesnakes and wildfire in Colorado. But I think Panama has us beat in terms of ways to get hurt and die when out in remote areas - scores of venomous snakes, scorpions, spiders. The combination of heavy rains and varied terrain can sure be treacherous. Indeed, another was found dead in a creek, during Aidan’s time there. They think he slipped and hit his head while trying to cross. Community members have died from snake bites. Aidan’s juxtaposition of time - the slow, deliberate progress of the vine snake, the rising water, and finally their urgent move to get out of harm’s way - makes this segment particularly fascinating. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Mike Ewing
05/04/2025
Mike Ewing
This week, I interviewed Mike Ewing. While Mike doesn’t work outside all the time, he’s committed thousands of hours to service work on the Appalachian Trail, that’s the legendary 2200-mile route that runs through 14 states, from Georgia and Maine. About 300 of those trail miles are in Maine. I’m from Maine and, as a kid, I spent lots of time camping and hiking. The 8-, 10-, 12-year old me thought those were vacations, but they were actually us doing service work on sections of the Appalachian Trail. For listeners who have mostly hiked in the western states, it’ll be helpful to describe the stark contrast between here and there. Maine gets a lot of rain. Maine is heavily forested. Hiking can be daunting. Often you can’t see where you’ve been or where you’re going. It’s easy to get lost. Some trails are only for the fit and agile, with house-size boulders and seemingly endless verticality. Particularly craggy sections are called notches. They aren’t gaps or passes – which are other ways to describe low points between mountains. Notches are more gnarly and treacherous. My son, Beau, believes they have their own kind of weather. He’s hiked Maine’s Mahoosuc Notch, reputed to be the Appalachian Trail’s most difficult mile, and said, “it’s technical and easy to get injured there. And if you do get hurt, it’s hard to get out.” Mike, who went to Colorado State University and worked for the forest service in northern Colorado after graduating, maintains a stretch that includes Sawyer Notch and Hall Mountain. . We’ll share an interactive map of the AT in the show notes. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Find his music here. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Nina Fuller
04/24/2025
Nina Fuller
Nina Fuller lives in my native state of Maine where she raises a small flock of sheep on her farm in Hollis. I grew up in Harpswell which is about 60 miles up the coast. In fact, she mentions Harpswell in this segment. Nina also is an accomplished photographer. Check out her brilliant work . Nina's is a true explorer and lifeling learner. Who gets into sheep farming in her 60's? Nina does. Oh, and, she also has a master's degree in counseling pschology. Farms and ranches vary in scale. My friend, Sarah, visited a ranch in South America last year which managed 20,000 sheep. Nina has about 40, along with horses, on her 35 acres. Each year, she swears she’s going to scale down, but it can be hard to part with ewes when you know them well, name them, and develop histories with. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us . Our music is by my friend, Forrest Van Tuyl, who knows a bit about wonders at work. Last name “t u y l” Find more of his terrific music Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Chuck Haraway
04/13/2025
Chuck Haraway
For decades, Chuck Haraway worked as a Colorado lineman, mostly in the area west of Denver. The country there is mountainous and rugged. Ten thousand foot peaks abound. Much of the line work for him was in the backcountry, where lines were maintained by hiking to and then climbing up the 40-foot utility poles to service them. This segment actually has two stories I think you'll enjoy. It happens that our interviewee is an exceptional athlete. He’s competed in many triathlons, including the full Ironman in Hawaii. He’s directed triathlons in the Denver area. And the 77-year old has cycled up and down Lookout Mountain thousands of times. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Consider supporting Awe, Nice! . Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time. Our music is by my friend, Forrest Van Tuyl, who knows a bit about wonders at work. Last name “t u y l” Find more of his terrific music from a link at Awenice.com Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Doug Wilkerson
03/27/2025
Doug Wilkerson
I interviewed Doug Wilkerson. I met Doug at a ranch roping event and just thought he had a great way of connecting with his horse, and, of course, he’s a heckuva hand. Here he is to tell us a bit about himself, his livelihood, and a moment he’ll remember forever. Little unsuspecting moments of epiphany can end up being pivotal in our journeys, can’t they? It’s like they are waiting out there in the brush, ready for you if you’re ready for them. Doug and his wife Haley and their infant son came to , a mental health forum for those in the horse community. They were a delight, a pair of insightful folks who have experienced a lot in their lives already. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Consider supporting Awe, Nice! . Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Daniel Dauphin
03/27/2025
Daniel Dauphin
I interviewed , a Louisiana horseman and expert in bits and horse mouth anatomy. Here he is to tell us a bit about himself, his livelihood, and a moment he’ll remember forever. Maybe you can tell from Daniel’s voice, that he’s kind of a big Teddy Bear built guy. We are both writers and we joke often about word count. If I write a hundred words, I’ll try to get it down to half that. If Daniel writes a hundred words, count on it ultimately being, hmm, maybe a thousand. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Consider supporting Awe, Nice! . Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Dan Flitner
03/27/2025
Dan Flitner
I interviewed Dan is a Wyoming native who now ranches in Oregon. Here he is to tell us a bit about himself, his livelihood, and a moment he’ll remember forever. There’s nothing like a big storm to reminds us of our smallness. Dan knows folks who’ve been hit by lightning. Some lived. Some did not. His dad’s buddy had his quarters and dimes melted right in his pocket. That happened to a friend of mine here in Montezuma County, too. Smells are pungent after a storm. Yes, there is the smell of ozone, a lightning-generated gas. But the soil and plants give off smells, too. Around here, it's the sweet, rose-y smell generated by the sage. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Consider supporting Awe, Nice! . Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.
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Caitlyn Taussig
03/27/2025
Caitlyn Taussig
I interviewed , a longtime rancher in northern Colorado and a talented singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice. Here she is to tell us a bit about herself, her livelihood, and a moment she’ll remember forever. Caitlyn and I worked together on a short documentary, , about ranching women, their dogs, horses, and cows. I’m so grateful to Caitlyn and her mom, Vicki, for their participation, their generosity and insights. A Brutal, Beautiful Life is screening now at film festivals. AweNice welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, . Our music is by my friend, , who knows a bit about wonders at work. Consider supporting Awe, Nice! .
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